AFFILIATED AFL-CIO AFGE LOCAL OFFICERS

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO

AMERICAN FEDERATION

OF

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

JUSTICE, FRATERNITY, PROGRESS

EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP

DEVELOPMENT

A F F I L I AT E D

WITH AFL-CIO

AFGE LOCAL OFFICERS

Resource Guide

AMERICAN FEDERATION

OF

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

JUSTICE, FRATERNITY, PROGRESS

EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP

DEVELOPMENT

A F F I L I AT E D

WITH AFL-CIO

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO Education and Leadership Development Department

80 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20001



? 2003

AFGE Local Officers Resource Guide

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE

This guide includes resources designed to help AFGE Local Presidents educate and lead the local union. It contains information on the roles and responsibilities of local union officers as well as useful tools for helping develop union activists and mentor them in their union work. Keep this guide handy and use the resources in this book in one-on-one education sessions with officers, stewards, and members.

Stewards and other union activists will find the information contained in this guide useful in building confidence in performing their duties and gaining a more complete understanding of the goals and objectives of AFGE and the local union.

Every local officer should have a copy of the AFGE Resource Library, available

on a CD-ROM. The CD contains resource materials (including forms, manuals, and regulations) covering important union topics such as membership and organizing, legislative and political action, workplace representation, communications and local union administration. To order your copy of the AFGE Resource Library, log onto .

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Table of Contents

1. Primary Goal of Local Officers: Building a Strong Local Union . . . . . . .5

Involving And Educating The Membership Identifying And Encouraging New Leaders The Three Key Functions of AFGE:

Organizing, Representation, and Legislative and Political Action

2. How AFGE Operates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Union Profile AFGE Governance And Organizational Structure Duties Of National Officers And Staff AFGE Departments Where Do Our Union Dues Go? AFL-CIO Structure

3. Fiduciary Responsibilities of Local Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Fiduciary Responsibilities Under The Law Fiduciary Responsibilities Under

The AFGE Constitution Union And Local Operating Practices Breach Of Fiduciary Responsibilities Checks And Balances?Annual Local Audit Completing A Local Audit

4. Setting Goals and Preparing a Local Budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Setting Goals Strategic Planning The Use Of Goals In Preparing A Local Budget

5. Local President: Duties and Responsibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Duties And Responsibilities Executive Board Meetings Time Management

6. Local Treasurer: Duties and Responsibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

Duties And Responsibilities Handling Expenditures Expense Vouchers: Guidelines Financial Reports Local Accounting System AFGE Local Collection Of Dues Program The Local Membership Database:

Keeping It Up Date

7. Local Secretary: Duties and Responsibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Duties And Responsibilities Meeting Minutes: The Official Record

Of Union Business Order Of Business In Union Meetings Local Filing System

8. Local Executive Board and Local Union Committees . . . . . . . . . . .51

Duties And Responsibilities Local Union Committees Getting A Local Union Committee

Off The Ground Types Of Local Committees

9. Running Effective Union Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Democratic Decision Making Running An Effective Union Meeting Using Parliamentary Procedure Chairing A Union Meeting In 10 Easy Steps

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10. Organizing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Why Organize?

How To Start An Organizing Program In Your Local

AFGE's Internal Organizing Model: Issue Organizing

External Organizing: Organizing New Bargaining Units

New Forms Of Organizing

AFGE Retirees

11. Collective Bargaining and Representation . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

American Workers Have Not Always Had These Rights

Workers Rights In The Federal And DC Governments

Collective Bargaining Basics

Contract Mobilization--Involving Workers in the Bargaining Process

14. Union Communications . . . . . . . . . . .93 Communicating with Members Worksite Visits Publications Communicating with the General Public Community Service Media Outreach

15. Mobilizing Our Power . . . . . . . . . . . .101 Why Mobilize? How To Build A Local Mobilization Structure One-on-One Education Collective Actions

16. Welcoming New Members . . . . . . . . .111 Conducting A New Worker Orientation Developing A New Member Packet New Member Follow-up

12. Legislative and Political Action . . . . . .79 People Power: Mobilizing The Membership

Government Workers Have The Right To Participate In Political Action

People-Powered Politics: Union Power vs. Corporate Power

The Hatch Act: Its Importance To Government Employees

Joining Forces With The AFL-CIO

Working With Coalitions To Build Our Political Power

13. Promoting Civil, Human, and Workers Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87

Establishing a Local Women's and Fair Practices Committee

Local Women's and Fair Practices Coordinators

Contract Language

Working With Coalitions to Promote Workplace Equality

17. Building A Stewards Structure . . . . . .119 Stewards: The Face Of The Local Union Chief Steward Training Stewards Communicating With Stewards Recognizing Stewards

18. Grievance and Arbitration . . . . . . . . .125 Why We Have A Grievance and

Appeals Procedure Guidelines for Effective Grievance Handling Duty of Fair Representation Appeals and Arbitration

19. AFGE History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133

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